4: A Surprise Party in the (Not Yet) U.S.A.

There’s a governor’s ball and Felicity WILL dance (and cry along the way) if she wants to in Felicity’s Surprise. In unpacking this third installment, Mary and Allison discuss the extent to which the title character’s surprise is not just a new dress or doll but the extent to which “woke” Ben wants her to be domesticated. We also trace the feverish dots between Mrs. Merriman’s illness, The Yellow Wallpaper, and Theranos. If you didn’t see the Elizabeth Holmes/Felicity Merriman connection coming, hold your horses–there’s also a colonial Williamsburg/Bachelor Nation tie-in. This is one we couldn’t wait to drop. Great analysis of Golden Girls and chronic fatigue syndrome: https://nursingclio.org/2018/09/25/golden-girls-chronic-fatigue-syndrome-and-the-legacies-of-hysteria/ Holiday Magic is Made by Women, and it’s Killing Us: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/emotional-labor-holidaysn5a1ec905e4b0d724fed5588a

Visit our merch store!

Join our patreon!

Follow the show on Instagram (@americangirlspodcast) and Twitter (@agirlspod)

Email us at [email protected]

You can follow Allison on Instagram (@allisonhorrocks) and Twitter (@allisonhorrocks)

You can follow Mary on Instagram (@mimimahoney) and Twitter (@MaryMahoney123)